Gonzi says Labour leader is making promises he cannot keep

In an interview held today on the Nationalist Party's radio station, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said the Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat making promises which he might not be able to honour in meetings held with individuals.

Gonzi said Muscat is promising development permits, "even though this might create problems with Mepa."

The Prime Minister asked whether Labour's environment policy was based on such promises and reminded listeners that Labour, holds an awful record in the environmental sector, citing decisions taken by past Labour administrations which ruined historical sites.

Mentioning the Opposition's leader's stands on the dockyards and Sea Malta, Gonzi said "Muscat took wrong decisions and was on the wrong side of history just as previous Labour Party ministers did before him. "

Gonzi said Labour MEP Edward Scicluna who is a being portrayed as a star candidate has stated that the stipend and health systems are not sustainable. Gonzi also spoke about the past records of former Labour ministers Evarist Bartolo, Leo Brincat and Karmenu Vella who are still central ingredients  of today's Labour Party.

Gonzi explained that unlike Labour, the government has clear and sustainable policies such as those incentivising the use of clean energy. He added that Labour cannot be trusted on issues such as students' stipends and health.

Speaking about tomorrow's Parliamentary vote on the Opposition's motion calling for the resignation of Malta permanent representative to the EU Richard Cachia Caruana, Gonzi

Said the motion should serve as a reminder of Labour's impulse to destroy people. 

The Prime Minister defended the government's record in running the economy and pledged to continue creating more jobs and increasing the disposable income of families, workers and the self-employed.

"The Nationalist Party had always been the political party to create jobs having weathered the stormy international economic climate in the last four years."

Gonzi said that apart from the 20,000 jobs created in four years, up to 20,000 students had graduated from University, MCAST and other educational institutions.

He explained that a Nationalist administration will also continue to invest in education, health, the environment and infrastructure.

In reaction to Labour's incessant criticism of the new Parliament project, Gonzi also defended the investment being made in Valletta, including the extensive restoration of the bastions and the City Gate project.

He explained that the government's vision was to have a vibrant capital city worthy of being Europe's cultural capital in 2018.

"Criticism by Joseph Muscat, is only motivated by his own partisan interests. For Labour, quality is not important. These projects are not only creating jobs, but are also freeing up space in the President's Palace which will become another tourist attraction."